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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 432 FILED ON: 1/12/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3437
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
William M. Straus
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:William M. Straus10th Bristol1/12/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 432 FILED ON: 1/12/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3437
By Representative Straus of Mattapoisett, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3437) of
William M. Straus for an investigation by a special commission relative to retirement benefits
provided to Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority employees. Transportation.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3604 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. There is hereby established a special commission to investigate and report
2on retirement benefits provided to employees of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
3consisting of the following members: the secretary of transportation, or a designee; the treasurer,
4or a designee; the executive director of the Public Employee Retirement Administration
5Commission, or a designee; the secretary of administration and finance, or a designee; and the
6president of Massachusetts AFL-CIO, or a designee. The executive director of the MBTA
7Retirement Fund shall serve on the commission ex officio as a non-voting member. The report
8shall analyze the feasibility of providing retirement benefits to future employees of the Authority
9solely and exclusively under chapter 32 of the General Laws as opposed to any other statutory or
10contractual plan or system under which current Authority employees are eligible to receive 2 of 2
11retirement benefits, and shall examine and report on, without limitation: (i) all retirement
12benefits currently received by retirees of the Authority and retirement benefits for which current
13employees of the Authority are eligible; (ii) relevant contractual provisions and applicable
14federal and state laws and the legal effects thereof; (iii) transition costs and implementation and
15logistical considerations; (iv) the relative impact on pension benefits; and (v) the advisability of
16so providing retirement benefits to future employees of the Authority pursuant to chapter 32 of
17the General Laws, and if so, a proposed effective date; provided, that any recommendations
18contained in the report shall have considered the need for the continued sustainability of the
19statutory and contractual retirement benefits provided for existing employees of the Authority.
20Not later than January 1, 2025, the commission shall file the report with the the house and senate
21committees on ways and means, the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on
22transportation, and the clerks of the house of representatives and senate.